Did you enjoy your time and feel like you made a difference as YUSU President?
Yes, I very much did and I would do it all over again if I could! I met some of my best friends during my time as President and on top of that made some great change happen during my time there that the University still benefits from. We won some of the most progressive academic welfare provisions in the country; secured over a million pounds in direct cost-of-living aid; enacted the most comprehensive divestment policy in the UK, created the single Union… and most important of all, got Long Boi the memorial he deserved. All hail his Löngthness.
How stressful did you find the campaigning process? What did you do for it?
I think I’m a natural campaigner and even I was really stressed out in all three elections I was involved in. I think the excitement and hype is all part of the fun though. I went slightly mad during my first run for President. I wallpapered campus in my campaign colours, which I hoped would make my campaign recognisable – people who were at University then might remember the red, blue and yellow vividly. I also remember boldly declaring to student media that if I didn’t achieve the change I set out within the first months of being in office I would tender my resignation.
Must have done something right because people did vote for me.
How did you decide which student union role you wanted to apply for?
I always tell people I let my boundless ego make that decision for me – but to be honest, I really loved the responsibility that comes with that role. The role usually comes with the most high-risk, high-reward decision-making calls. I wanted to make my mark on York. I’ve had my fair share of big calls to make in my time as President and that opportunity is what made me choose the role.
When did you decide that you wanted to apply and what made you want to go for it?
I made my decision just a week and a half before the nomination deadline. This decision was brought on by a quick morning lakeside chat with the Vice-Chancellor about sustainability standards at York which infuriated me to the point of running for President (it’s okay, we’re friends now – I think?).
I didn’t expect to be running in the slightest before that. I had my sights on becoming a clinical biologist. I have Charlie to thank for throwing my professional life off track (thank God honestly because can you imagine me in charge of a drug trial?? Absolutely not.)
How supportive were your friends and family?
I didn’t tell my family I was running, but my friends were so supportive. They even did a bit of campaign slave work (sorry, ‘friendly support’) for me and coloured in my close to 100 ‘Pierrick 4 Prez’ placards by hand. I think they enjoyed themselves.
What are you most proud of acheiving as YUSU President?
I think personally it was our divestment win. It took years of work and lobbying and I can’t believe I actually made it happen. How we use our money is so important and I’m so happy we no longer support fossil fuel banking, arms manufacture and international law violators.
What was your priority of what you wanted to acheive and had that goal changed by the end of your presidency?
To put it bluntly, my main priority coming in was to get the SU to stop being such a pushover. I absolutely HATED the “we’re a critical friend of the university” mantra. It really grinds my gears. That was the centerpiece of my first President campaign run. I think ask any senior member of staff at the University whether my team pulled back any punches and the answer will probably be a resounding ‘no’. People were worried we would lose our block grant if we spoke truth to power. That first year, we sent 21,000 student emails to the university in under 48 hours to protest changes to self-certification and a few weeks later our block grant incidentally went up 6% for the next year.
I’m not saying correlation equals causation but people can do the maths.
Have you got any advice for people campaigning right now?
Don’t be afraid to really put yourself out there. Elections are meant to be a bit of fun and everyone participating in them helps to clarify the direction the union takes. So make your campaigning bold and make it loud. Other than that, try to get some sleep.